Banff-Canmore CBC

General InformationCanmore Count Area MapHelpful Documents

This year’s Canmore and Banff Christmas bird count is coming up on Saturday, December 16th.

I’m looking forward to the Count day, and to having many of you taking part this year. Please don’t let inexperience deter your participation. I will try to match new birders with experienced ones – everyone can play a role.  Please feel free to invite a friend or two to join you. More ears, more eyes, more people to keep track! And kids are often really good at hearing and seeing the birds. On this note, we’re considering a Kids Christmas Bird Count for next year, so tell us if you know kids who might be interested in a relatively short but fun bird count.

If you are interested in this year’s count, please let me know as soon as you can – email me at [email protected]

Please Note: As I do not want to miss an interesting bird, please contact me if you are unsure of an identification before on or the day of the count! Previously, we have missed what would have been the first ever Brown Thrasher in the circle, even though it was probably in the area on the count day!

Here is a link to the Count map for Canmore, with 11 areas indicated. Possible subdivisions of some areas (e.g. #4 Silvertip and #6 Larch) may suit you if you have time to help for just an hour or two. Please give me details, though, so that I can avoid doubling watchers in an area.

I will assign areas on first-to-request basis. When I hear from you I will send you the forms and other information that you may need.

This year, our house will be open between 2pm and 5pm on the 17th for any of you (local or from out-of-town) to have a break and a cup of something hot and some snacks.  I’ll email the address to participants closer to the day.

At the end of the day, the annual potluck is held at the Seniors Centre in Banff where the data is collated and people share their highlights of the day. Everyone is welcome.

All of the information about the CBC including maps, rare bird forms and so on is available through the links at the top of this page.

I look forward to hearing from each of you.

Canmore CBC Map (with partitions)
Canmore CBC Map (with partitions)

Legend:

Canmore CBC Count Areas

AreaArea NameArea Description
1South CanmoreSouth from 8th Street, between the Bow River and Policeman’s Creek. Including Millenium Park, Spring Creek and adjacent habitat patches.
2Rundleview/Quarry LakeRundleview and habitat adjacent to Quarry Lake.
3Prospect Heights – Engine bridgeProspect Heights, Three Sisters Hill, Mineside.
4aUpper SilvertipFrom the split of Silvertip Trail/Silvertip Road up to and including the golf course, and to the end of Silvertip Road/Silvertip Heights. Up to Montane Trail.
4bLower Silvertip to BenchlandsSilvertip, Eagle Terrace, Benchlands
5Harvey HeightsHarvey Heights
6aLarch district From the Rec Centre and High School along Larch Ave to the river, across to Lions Park.
6bLarch IslandsSouth and East of Lions Park (to Railway Ave and to the Spur line trail).
7Community Golf Course / Bow RiverCommunity Golf Course and along the Bow River to Banff National Park boundary.
8DowntownBetween 9th street and the old mine railway line, plus the area from Bow Valley Trail to Railway Avenue between the two road crossings of the active railway line.
9Cougar Creek (North)Cougar Creek neighbourhood bounded by Benchlands Trail, Trans-Canada Highway and Cougar Creek itself.
10Palliser TrailPalliser Trail from Harvey Heights to Benchlands, including parking areas and Canmore Cemetery.
11Bow Valley TrailBetween Trans-Canada Highway and Hwy 1A; and from the Provincial Information Centre to the Heliport.

For the list of birds somewhat likely  to be seen in the Banff-Canmore CBC, click here.

If you’re lucky enough to find a rare bird – perhaps even the once-seen King Eider – you’ll need to fill in a Rare Bird report for us.

Photo by Olaf Oliviero Riemer; used with commons license.
Photo by Olaf Oliviero Riemer; used with commons license.

The local eBird moderator, Jason Rogers, has provided a very helpful guide to Redpolls – Hoary or Common.

 

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